"I appreciate and respect Sen. Hagel’s service to our country – both as an Army noncommissioned officer in Vietnam and as a member of Congress. Nevertheless, I have deep concerns about Sen. Hagel’s attitude toward our national security relationship with Israel, and his approach toward dealing with Iran and various terrorist organizations including Hezbollah. Also, his poor performance during the Senate confirmation hearings and lack of transparency in providing information to the Armed Services Committee raise serious questions about Sen. Hagel’s ability to manage the Pentagon."

"I met with Sen. Hagel in my office and closely watched his responses to my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee. Specifically, I've sought explanations regarding his opposition to Iran sanctions and his statements regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His remarks seem inconsistent to me and are troubling. His earlier positions on Iran were inconsistent with administration policy, and I am troubled by what appears to be a nomination conversion on this and other issues."

"The president deserves considerable latitude on appointing members of his cabinet and I have typically supported those nominees including those with whom I have significant policy disagreements. But Sen. Hagel's shifting positions, questionable performance during the Senate confirmation process and disturbing record on some of the most important national security issues of the day concern me."

"In light of these concerns, I will not vote to move to his nomination forward."

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Why Politics Matter

“Politics, the crooked timber of our communal lives, dominates everything because, in the end, everything – high and low and, most especially, high – lives or dies by politics. You can have the most advanced and efflorescent of cultures. Get your politics wrong, however, and everything stands to be swept away. This is not ancient history. This is Germany 1933.” –– Charles Krauthammer

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About Me

Tony A. Phyrillas is a leading conservative columnist, commentator and blogger based in Pennsylvania.
A veteran newspaperman with 30 years experience as a reporter, editor, photographer and columnist, Phyrillas received a first place award in 2010 for best column from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors and a first place award in 2007 for Best Opinion Column from Suburban Newspapers of America. He was recognized for column writing in 2007 by the Society of Professional Journalists, Keystone Chapter and in 2006 by the SPJ Greater Philadelphia Chapter.
Phyrillas is ranked among the most influential political bloggers in Pennsylvania by BlogNetNews.com.
Odyssey: The World of Greece magazine named Phyrillas one of the leading Greek-American bloggers in the world.
A Penn State University graduate, Phyrillas is city editor, opinion page editor and political columnist for The Mercury, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning daily newspaper in Pottstown, Pa.
Phyrillas is a frequent guest on talk radio and panelist on the "Journalists Roundtable" program on the Pennsylvania Cable Network.
He co-hosted a weekly radio program on WPAZ 1370 AM for 2 years.